Steph Sinclair > Status Update

Thanks, Kira. It's ironic this happened back to back.

Lady Moorchild wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Thanks, Kira. It's ironic this happened back to back."

Were these events somehow related (i.e., as somehow a general backlash) or was it just coincidence? Because I've been seein..."

Coincidence as far as I know.

There was an internet blackout in my part of Charlotte for the past few hours & they just resolved the issue.

For those of you calling foul at me calling Fallon "a big nosed, vindictive bitch"....I'm not sorry. Stephanie has been a great friend to me on here & when I read the email she posted, it made me LIVID. Yeah, maybe I should've been a little more eloquent with my response. But when I hear about someone not only calling a person I care about a "stupid cow" "bitch" & other things over a REVIEW, I'm going to get a little pissed. When that person also decides it will be a great idea to screw her over on Amazon & Goodreads over a review, I'm going to get a little pissed. Some people-not all by a long shot-seem to not understand that this person not only called Stephanie horrible names but went after her, gunning to make a mockery of her as an amazing & trusted reviewer. That's something that an "I'm sorry you were sent the email" (not, "I'm sorry I said the things I did & was contemplating fucking up your reviews"-which are two totally different things IMO) isn't going to make up for.

So yeah. Maybe I could've said something else. But I didn't. I decided to be a bitch & I think I had a hell of a better reason for my actions than Fallons, which was "I'm going to talk shit about you & screw you over because you wrote a bad review for my book".

LethalLovely....Is now reluctantly Blonded wrote: "There was an internet blackout in my part of Charlotte for the past few hours & they just resolved the issue.

For those of you calling foul at me calling Fallon "a big nosed, vindictive bitch"......"

I couldn't be more sympathetic to Stephanie, and I still don't see what the size of this woman's nose has to do with anything, or how her being a nicer person would make it smaller. Since her nose has nothing to do with her character, and "bitch" sinks to her level, I fail to see how it provides the support I'm quite sure that you want to provide.

I'll give you vindictive. :)

Ok...so this thread looks like it could head south. I really appreciate all the support and I hate to be the party pooper on my own thread, but can this thread die an honorable death? Please?

Let's all get back to what we love doing: reading and reviewing books. :)

I'm not saying what I wrote was the right way to go about providing support, Michelle. I stated that I could've been more eloquent with my response. I was pissed at the time & was in a "Fallon can kick rocks" state of mind. Was what I said nice? No. (Which, ironically enough, is a trait I share-I have a big ass nose too.) But I also didn't go Fallon's route & say "She's a vindictive, big nosed bitch & I'm going to start 1-star'ing her books everywhere & tell my friends not to buy them".

I could've TOTALLY took a step back & rethought my response. But the fact remains that I didn't & I'm not going to apologize for saying something mean about a person who was spiteful to & contemplated screwing up a friend's professional hobby.

Stephanie wrote: "Ok...so this thread looks like it could head south. I really appreciate all the support and I hate to be the party pooper on my own thread, but can this thread die an honorable death? Please?

Let..."

I'm done, Stephanie. I just hopped on GR after not having internet for 4 hours & saw all of these responses to a previous post. I didn't know everything was done with. I apologize. *Lethal backs away*

Hi Stephanie, I dont have much to say that everybody else hasn't already said, I'm very sorry this happened to you. This is disgusting behaviour for an author. I will immediately move her books to a will never read shelf (which I have yet to create!). While I'm there I'm sure I'll add the nasty authors from Kiras review. My faith in the YA publishing industry is severely lacking now. For the record, I think your review was excellent and I enjoy reading your reviews. That's all, I'll but out now :)

Stephanie:
I too am appalled by what happened to you! When authors write books, the readers have the right to write constructive criticism. The authors do not have to agree with what is being said and if they take exception, they can respond to the critique in a professional manner. I know that goodreads.com wants to be notified of inappropriate reviews. I think you should make them aware of inappropriate comments by authors. Hang tough girl. If the author cannot stand the heat, they should get out of the kitchen.

Lethal,
I get that the bottom line is that you were supporting a friend. :)

Stephanie wrote: "Ok...so this thread looks like it could head south. I really appreciate all the support and I hate to be the party pooper on my own thread, but can this thread die an honorable death? Please?

Let..."

Agree Steph, so let me just say thanks and all the best to you. I look forward to reading more of your review in the future. :-) GOODNIGHT ALL.

It's one thing to vent, but name calling is where it crosses the line. I'm particularly bothered by her use of the word "Bitch" in reference to someone she doesn't know. As a woman it just bothers me.

OMG!!! I she related to Dianne Sylvan by any chance??!! Hahaha remember all her hate messages to us readers when we rated her last book Shadowflame poorly?! At least she Sylvan didn't single a particular person out calling them horrific names.

Sorry to hear that happened to you Stephanie. Thats just appalling!
I won't be reading this book at all. What a disgrace!

Wow this is absolutely fucking unacceptable!!!!! What the fuck are these authors thinking?! I work in advertising/pr and this is the kinda 101 shit I tell my clients NOT to do. I can't believe that agents (who should know better) are also participating in this sort of behaviour. In this day and age of social media, the consumer is definitely king and brands/authors now have to focus on accountability for their actions. Definitely going to be using these cases as a way NOT to do PR/advertising during my next talk on detrimental behavior on social media. -___-

I'm so sorry it happened to you Stephanie and honestly your reviews although can be a little harsh are never done in a mean spirited way that personally attack the author. These authors are ironically acting like the very way they have accused you guys of acting. IRONIC.

I'm going to be creating a 'do not support' shelf soon (well after I finish my powerpoint on this for my clients - how a brand should not behave on social media!)

professionalism is the number one goal in any profession, never break, always take the higher road, and accept critique/review keep what works and the rest chuck is my motto.

SL, you are so very right on the advertising/PR angle. I too worked in the ad biz as they say, and bad attitude on the owner/manufacturer/author's part can utterly sink a product. Most authors that I know would thank god for pr that they can get for free. But to sink to such a level -- that's just awful.

And btw, to refer to someone as 'big nose' is a very ugly slur in some areas. Be careful with that one. In fact, let's just remove it from the vocabulary entirely.

Yet another author attacking reviewers: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

How hurtful. =(

Lethal has a big ass nose.

Just saying. I have a big ass butt too & I rock it with pride.

LethalLovely....Is Like a Boss...On a Boat wrote: "Lethal has a big ass nose.

Just saying. I have a big ass butt too & I rock it with pride."

Work it, girl. =D

Ouch. And this is the author whom I actually was generous enough to give two stars for a pretty substandard book. You know, thinking how not everyone starts with a masterpiece etc etc.
But this is rather disgusting. I can see a teenager doing this but a published author. I'm speechless.

Wow. I really have no words for all of this. I sat here and read everything just to make sure I was getting the whole story. Yea... This is one of the reasons I don't like the internet at times. Actually not just the internet, but social networking, media, and other things. Gives some people an inflated sense of self. Like "look at me I'm so special." So then people take everything so personal and it's because the internet and other things make some people feel like they are kings or queens of their own little world. "Like omg you can't say anything remotely bad about me because I will attack you full force. How dare you even imply that who I am or what I do isn't special?" I swear the internet makes some people so narcissistic at times. If you write a book, most likely a review will get written. Duh. Writing a book doesn't mean you'll get a positive review. Makes no sense for people to blow things out of proportion.

Melissa, I agree it with you 100%. I have stayed away from FB for a very long time just for those same reasons you shared above.

It's so very disturbing when an author lashes out at the very same people that actually spent money and gave their honest review. It's unbelievable, disgusting, horrific, and shameful to say the least.

MISS VAIN wrote: "Melissa, I agree it with you 100%. I have stayed away from FB for a very long time just for those same reasons you shared above.

It's so very disturbing when an author lashes out at the very same..."

I actually have a fb, but I mostly just put up quotes and random vids and things. But oh boy, some of the things you see on there... Especially from the younger people. I swear, these things make people go crazy and narcissistic and it's sad because it doesn't have to be this way. It makes you think how parents are failing to teach their kids how to treat others with respect and how to behave. Because the internet, media, etc. on its own, isn't that bad. It's how you're raised and what you're taught that enables you to not be affected negatively by these things or use them negatively. Clearly, a lot of people are failing in that department.

And you are right. It is disturbing and shameful. There will never be a book that is so perfect that everyone will love. Things just don't work that way. Honestly, authors just need to either take something positive from negative reviews and improve their work or just ignore it and move on with their lives. Too much time is wasted being hurt over things like this when there are bigger things to worry about in this world.

Holy cow, that's appalling. My sympathies, Stephanie.

You don't know me. I'm not any kind of author, just a reader and sometimes reviewer (nonfiction only).

I didn't think your review especially brutal. It wasn't gentle, but it was funny and I understood your reaction to the book. The author's reaction was foolish, at best.

I have had some minor author bad reaction to reviews (overall positive ones, ironically) which resulted in some down votes on Amazon. But nothing like this.

I'm sorry, and I hope things clear up soon. You seem to have the good support of a community of friends.

All this author vs. reviewer bashing that's been going on has made me so sad. I'm sorry it happened to you, Stephanie.

here via LiveJournal....very sorry this has happened to you. hopefully word will spread and she will lose readership (more than she has already!)

Stephanie, I'm pretty speechless right now. So sorry you had to read that stunningly rude email.

I appreciate how you pulled the direct quotes from Twilight that are all over this book. As I read passages in Carrier, I kept thinking, "This is almost a direct line from Twilight." The similarities are CRAZY. Thanks for the references, and again, so sorry. :(

Oh my lord. Stephanie i'm shaking with anger right now, you have no idea. I'm so sorry you were attacked by such a childish asshole.

Thanks, everyone. It's been one hell of a way to start of 2012. Let's hope we have a peaceful rest of the year or at least a freakin' week. Jeez. All this shit back to back.

Dear me, we're behind you my dear! Let's show them the power of readers/reviewers are all about.

Hey, I just noticed Leigh Fallon gave *her own book* five stars!

I thought it was supposed to be tacky for an author to give stars to his or her own book. Or against policy. Foolishly self-aggrandising, anyhow.

My husband is an author, and I have not rated his books for that very reason.

Alessandra wrote: "Hey, I just noticed Leigh Fallon gave *her own book* five stars!

I thought it was supposed to be tacky for an author to give stars to his or her own book. Or against policy. Foolishly self-aggra..."

I've seen some authors rate their books and others don't. I personally don't care one way or the other because I don't believe their lone rating will have a huge impact on the overall rating.

Alessandra wrote: "I thought it was supposed to be tacky for an author to give stars to his or her own book. Or against policy. Foolishly self-aggrandising, anyhow."

Tacky? Without a doubt. Sadly, Goodreads allows it, but that doesn't mean readers are impressed.

Amazon has a policy against it. In fact, anyone with a financial interest in any of their products (publishers, editors, distributors, husbands...etc.) are suppose to refrain from posting reviews.

Personally, I have a firm policy not to buy any books by authors who manipulate the rating system in their favor. Rating your own book 5-stars certainly counts, IMHO.

I wish Goodreads would take a hint from Amazon and disallow the posting of authors' reviews of their own books. I wouldn't be against a way for the author to post a blurb or something about their book, but even if it's just one review, it's still manipulating the system.

Stephanie wrote: "I've seen some authors rate their books and others don't. I personally don't care one way or the other because I don't believe their lone rating will have a huge impact on the overall rating."

I concur. Moreover, some of the books I read are self/indie stuff. These authors do not have PR training or social media competency, so I don't want to penalize them by not reading their books just because I find rating their own books kinda tacky.

I also find authors like-buttoning positive reviews for their own books kinda tacky too. But eh. Whatever.

All I truly care are that the author is nice and she appreciate all readers, instead dividing them between fans and haters. Kindness and humility wins me as a reader; everything else is secondary.

I have put up reviews of my husband's books here, but they're mostly to the effect of my husband wrote this, I think it's good, but boy, am I biased, and no star rating at all. It's how I try to reconcile GoodReads the review and info site with GoodReads the personal bookshelf catalogue.

Becky wrote: "I wouldn't be against a way for the author to post a blurb or something about their book, but even if it's just one review, it's still manipulating the system. "

Authors are able to write a lot about their books in the comment section, they also have blogs, their web site...etc. to use too. Creating a review post is simply not necessary, which is why I see it as a manipulation of the ratings system.

I don't mind an author "liking" a review, just like I don't mind them commenting on them. As long as they are respectful. That's all I ask.

Amanda wrote: "I've been watching this post and it just keeps getting more and more entertaining... LOL

http://www.memyshelfandi.com/2012/01/..."

I love how it wasn't about "the review in question." Classic. I'm pretty sure everyone's heard of "the review in question" and can guess where this stemmed from.

Oh, I think the "toe rag" has seen it and has gotten the last laugh.

This is the second type of incident I have came across today, as a reviewer I am horrified that some authors would do this

Stephanie wrote: "Lucy wrote: "Someone is without a doubt flat out attacking your review. They're even disliking the comments on your review. http://www.amazon.com/review/RQVRUQYP......"

Don't, you are entitled to give an honest review and you shouldn't feel bad about it. It would be boring if we all liked the same.

Amanda wrote: "I would love to know what exactly a "toe rag" is exactly. Who uses that? LOL"

A rag that has been used to wipe a toe? Lol. Totally kidding. I saw a definition posted a few pages back, but I was too lazy to click it.

Lainy, that is true. :)

For those of you calling foul at me calling Fallon "a big nosed, vindictive bitch"....I'm not sorry. ..."

You do realise that "big nose" is a term that is generally used in a demeaning manner towards Jews, right? So in saying that, you're contributing to anti-Semitism.

Michelle wrote: "I couldn't be more sympathetic to Stephanie, and I still don't see what the size of this woman's nose has to do with anything, or how her being a nicer person would make it smaller. Since her nose has nothing to do with her character, and "bitch" sinks to her level, I fail to see how it provides the support I'm quite sure that you want to provide."

"Big nose" is a slur/insult used to describe Jews. It's a really vile, anti-Semitic comment (see: caricatures of Jews in WW II Germany). Jews are stereotyped as having big noses. Why, I have no idea, but that's beside the point. Point being, it's an anti-Semitic comment.

Amanda wrote: "Lolno wrote: "For those of you calling foul at me calling Fallon "a big nosed, vindictive bitch"....I'm not sorry. ..."

You do realise that "big nose" is a term that is generally used in a demeani..."

Thanks for playing, but you missed the point. The point being that "big nose" IS a slur used to demean Jews. Idfc about the size of your nose.

http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/9...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoty...
http://blog.chron.com/someviewsfromaj...

Lolno wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Lolno wrote: "For those of you calling foul at me calling Fallon "a big nosed, vindictive bitch"....I'm not sorry. ..."

You do realise that "big nose" is a term that is generally us..."

The way I see "big nose" is that it is an insult against snobbery, but not the racist slur type you're describing. I believe bringing up the antisemitism into this conversation is distracting the main issue at hand.

As someone who is Asian and gay and a geek living in a extremely conservative state of America, I know I bigotry when I see it. And sorry, my dear, this isn't it.

Amanda wrote: "My best friend is Jewish and she didn't take offense to the comment when I showed her this post...so? I would suggest stop being so sensitive."

Or you can always ask a Jewish person and see what they think. No better validation than that.

If you guys want to discuss linguistics and racial insults I suggest you private message one another or take it to another thread. You're detracting from the point here and using the author as an example again is unnecessary. Doing stuff like this victimizes the author. They're wrong to complain about bad reviews, it's an expected part of being published, but they're right to complain about personal attacks about their appearances, lifestyles, and families. Appearance attacks are wrong and unnecessary on their own, but it's especially bad for all reviewers when it's done on goodreads and in topics like this one.

You are really detracting from the topic.

Wow, this kind of blew up outbid nowhere.

I would really appreciate it if everyone would stop talking about Leigh's personal appearance.

I think I'm going to go back and edit my first post to inform people not to comment unless they've read the entire thread. Otherwise, things could be rehashed over and over.